Journal Entry #1 August 23rd, 1930 Dear Diary, My name is Darla Johnson. I have a momma, a papa, and a sissy. My mommas name is Heather. My momma have long brown hair and blue eyes that shine like the sea. She don’t see many people nowadays, but she used to be a very popular lady back in her day. My momma was diagnosed with cancer bout three years ago. She been fightin’ this cancer for what seems like forever. I believe that everything happens for a reason. God gave my momma cancer at the age of 52. I ain’t never seen my momma cry so much in my entire life. That’s a pretty long time considerin’ I’m 17 and a quarter years old. I’m practically an adult now. I live in a small town of Missouri, Prairie Home. There only 220 people in my town. I go to Prairie High, the only high school in my town. I wanna be a teacher when I grow old, an English teacher to be exact. I wanna inspire kids like me to do something with the lives they have. My papa, Timmy Johnson, used to be the assistant owner of his company. He called himself, “the big guy in town”. I ain’t never seen my papa so happy when he got promoted. Nowadays, he just be mopin’ around. He ain’t been lookin’ for a job cause he find it more important to take care my momma. Personally, I think he’d be helpin’ her more if he was out there makin’ some money so he can feed her frail body. Bless his soul for lovin’ my momma the way he do though. My sissy, Janie, she the best sissy I could ever ask for. She only seven, but she is mature for her age of course. Janie is a teensy girl. She love to make me laugh, and she succeeds graciously. I sure am gonna miss her a lot. With my momma bein sick, and my sissy bein’ so young an all, my papa need my help more than anythin’. He sat me down this mornin’ and told me that he gonna be straight with me. He told me that I need to fend for myself now and it’s my turn to take care of the family. I knew what he meant right away. The look in his eyes shot me like a pistol, right through the heart. I couldn’t say no to my papa, for my family be the only thing I got. They the best thing that ever been mine. He told me I best be leaving by the end of the week. Today’s Monday. I scared of course. I ain’t never been outside the little town of Prairie home for cryin’ out loud. I needa be strong though. For my momma, for my sissy, and for my papa who knows what kind of sacrifice he be makin’ askin’ a young lady like myself to leave home. I ain’t sure bout all those boys who be ridin’ the rails these days, but I heard it ain’t easy out their alone. Where am I goin’ once I leave? Why, New York of course. That be where all those jobs are. I’m gonna earn some money each week and send it back home to my papa. I know how much it means to them for me to go, so I’m gonna do just that. Love always, Darla Journal Entry #2 August 30th, 1930 Dear Diary, Well, it ain’t much longer til I leave home now. I ain’t sure what it gonna be like out there. I feel like a bear diving into a lake, not knowin’ how to swim, and not sure if I’ll survive. I’ve been talkin’ with my girls the past few days, those of them who heard of them boys who be ridin’ the rails. Ever since 1920, when er’ body lost themselves their jobs, and their homes. That’s the reason why most kids be ridin’ the rails these days. Some of them ain’t survived more than a day out there. I heard those trains often be killin’ boys. I ain’t gonna be safe out there alone. Where am I gonna sleep? Where am I gonna change my clothes? What am I gonna eat? I lie awake at night thinkin’ bout these things. I go to bed cryin’ and I wake up crying. This ain’t what a young lady like myself is supposed to be doin’. My momma’s been cryin’ endlessly since my papa told her I ain’t gonna be around no more. I plan on sayin’ my goodbyes in the early morning. That way it won’t be as hard to say my farewells’. Me and my papa took a look at an old map he found in the pantry. I’ll find the nearest train station in Missouri. Hopefully some kind man will help me find my way to Route 66. My plan is to make it all the way to New York. It gonna be a long way there, but I have faith in god, and that he will lead me in the right direction. Love Always, Darla Journal Entry #3 August 31st, 1930 Dear Diary, Bless the lord, I made it to the train station in St. Louis, Missouri. I ain’t sure how the hell I gonna get myself onto the train, but I’m sure I’ll find some’body who’s done it before. Maybe they will help me on my first ride. I ain’t sure where this train will take me next, but I am ready for an adventure that’s for sure. Goodbyes ain’t never been easy for me. I ain’t never felt so sad in my life when I walked out the door of my dear home. My sissy, Janie, she took it the hardest I believe. I am the only true friend my sissy ever had. I never felt okay leavin’ my sissy like that, but I know now that leavin’ her will only make life easier for her in the future. Love always, Darla Journal Entry #4 September 1st, 1930 Dear Diary, A boy a few years older than me, lent me a hand onto the train yesterday. He said I ain’t half bad for a lady. I felt happy after he said that, I felt like I could be a pal to some of these boys. I woke this morning next to Tommy J, a boy from Chicago, Illinois. I was frightened cause I didn’t know where I was, but then I asked him how I got there, and he told me I had fallen fast asleep on the train. He didn’t want me to getin’ hurt so he took me with’em and found me a nice place to sleep beside the road. I made it all the way to Ohio yesterday. I spent all day on that damn train. I ain’t never been so scared and uncomfortable. Now how I fell asleep, I ain’t sure yet. All I care bout is that I am livin’ and I am healthy. Bless Tommy J’s soul for takin’ me with him. I got a long day ahead of me. I best be on my way. Love Always, Darla Journal Entry #5 September 9th, 1930 Dear Diary, It’s been days since I last wrote. I haven’t had the heart to write since I hopped the train in Ohio. I been feelin’ so lonely lately, I don’t know what to do with myself. I ain’t seen one girl ridin’ the rails since I left home. It’s times like these when I pray to the dear lord to help my family and my friends. I wonder endlessly bout the economy and why we be in this depression anyways. I can’t stand to see my family in this much pain. I be thinkin’ about it all day long while I’m ridin’ the rails. I know I be doin’ the right thing goin’ to New York. I send my love back home through pray, and I hope my momma, my papa, and my sissy be thinkin’ bout mejust as much as I be thinkin’ bout them. Last night I been caught by the railroad police. I ain’t never heard of such a thing before. I was bout to hop on the next train to Pennsylvania when I was grabbed by the arm violently, and next thing you know I was on my merry way to jail. I spent last night uncomfortable in jail. I slept on the grimy floor next to some three other boys. One’ a them made a joke bout me cause I been cryin’ myself to sleep. He just don’t know what it’s like to be a young lady like myself ridin’ the rails. I woke this mornin’ beside a boy named John Burns. John is 18 years old. We made friends with each other quick and decided to move forward on our journey together. We spent the day today talkin’, and learnin’ about each others lives. I ain’t had this feelin’ since the last time I saw my dear family. I know my momma would like John. I wish more than anythin’ that she could be here to meet’em. We are leavin’ now to hop on the next train to New York! Hopefully I be earnin’ some money soon. Love Always, Darla Journal Entry #6 September 10th, 1930 Dear Diary, I was raped. -Darla Journal Entry #7 September 11th, 1930 Dear Diary, I was wrong about John. How could I be so naïve. I told him my life story and I felt like he wanted to be there for me. Boy, was I misled. All he wanted was my body. I was raped last night. He tried to touch me in places I ain’t never been touched before. I was so scared, I tried to stop’em but he resisted. I ain’t ever been strong. Now I know why my papa always told me to gain some muscle or I be in trouble some day. He was damn right. I don’t feel safe. I don’t feel like myself no more. I just ain’t the same. This journey ain’t worth the risk no more. I never knew what this journal would become, but now I know. God had me write this diary so I could tell you Janie, my experience as a hobo, my experience ridin’ the rails, and the horrifyin’ boy who changed my life forever. I love you Janie. I love my momma, and I love my papa. You all been the best family I could ever ask for. It’s my time to go Janie. I can’t do this any longer. I won’t be returnin’ home, and I ain’t never gonna see you again. You are a special girl Janie. Always remember that. Take care of momma and papa ya here? You have a bigger heart than anyone I ever known. I know you’ll make a difference someday. My days have changed. Take this Journal, and feel me within your heart as you read it. I will always be right there beside ya. I was meant to be your angel. Love Always & Forever, Darla
August 23rd, 1930
Dear Diary,
My name is Darla Johnson. I have a momma, a papa, and a sissy. My mommas name is Heather. My momma have long brown hair and blue eyes that shine like the sea. She don’t see many people nowadays, but she used to be a very popular lady back in her day. My momma was diagnosed with cancer bout three years ago. She been fightin’ this cancer for what seems like forever. I believe that everything happens for a reason. God gave my momma cancer at the age of 52. I ain’t never seen my momma cry so much in my entire life. That’s a pretty long time considerin’ I’m 17 and a quarter years old. I’m practically an adult now.
I live in a small town of Missouri, Prairie Home. There only 220 people in my town. I go to Prairie High, the only high school in my town. I wanna be a teacher when I grow old, an English teacher to be exact. I wanna inspire kids like me to do something with the lives they have. My papa, Timmy Johnson, used to be the assistant owner of his company. He called himself, “the big guy in town”. I ain’t never seen my papa so happy when he got promoted. Nowadays, he just be mopin’ around. He ain’t been lookin’ for a job cause he find it more important to take care my momma. Personally, I think he’d be helpin’ her more if he was out there makin’ some money so he can feed her frail body. Bless his soul for lovin’ my momma the way he do though. My sissy, Janie, she the best sissy I could ever ask for. She only seven, but she is mature for her age of course. Janie is a teensy girl. She love to make me laugh, and she succeeds graciously. I sure am gonna miss her a lot. With my momma bein sick, and my sissy bein’ so young an all, my papa need my help more than anythin’. He sat me down this mornin’ and told me that he gonna be straight with me. He told me that I need to fend for myself now and it’s my turn to take care of the family. I knew what he meant right away. The look in his eyes shot me like a pistol, right through the heart. I couldn’t say no to my papa, for my family be the only thing I got. They the best thing that ever been mine. He told me I best be leaving by the end of the week. Today’s Monday.
I scared of course. I ain’t never been outside the little town of Prairie home for cryin’ out loud. I needa be strong though. For my momma, for my sissy, and for my papa who knows what kind of sacrifice he be makin’ askin’ a young lady like myself to leave home. I ain’t sure bout all those boys who be ridin’ the rails these days, but I heard it ain’t easy out their alone. Where am I goin’ once I leave? Why, New York of course. That be where all those jobs are. I’m gonna earn some money each week and send it back home to my papa. I know how much it means to them for me to go, so I’m gonna do just that.
Love always,
Darla
Journal Entry #2
August 30th, 1930
Dear Diary,
Well, it ain’t much longer til I leave home now. I ain’t sure what it gonna be like out there. I feel like a bear diving into a lake, not knowin’ how to swim, and not sure if I’ll survive. I’ve been talkin’ with my girls the past few days, those of them who heard of them boys who be ridin’ the rails. Ever since 1920, when er’ body lost themselves their jobs, and their homes. That’s the reason why most kids be ridin’ the rails these days. Some of them ain’t survived more than a day out there. I heard those trains often be killin’ boys. I ain’t gonna be safe out there alone. Where am I gonna sleep? Where am I gonna change my clothes? What am I gonna eat? I lie awake at night thinkin’ bout these things. I go to bed cryin’ and I wake up crying. This ain’t what a young lady like myself is supposed to be doin’. My momma’s been cryin’ endlessly since my papa told her I ain’t gonna be around no more. I plan on sayin’ my goodbyes in the early morning. That way it won’t be as hard to say my farewells’. Me and my papa took a look at an old map he found in the pantry. I’ll find the nearest train station in Missouri. Hopefully some kind man will help me find my way to Route 66. My plan is to make it all the way to New York. It gonna be a long way there, but I have faith in god, and that he will lead me in the right direction.
Love Always,
Darla
Journal Entry #3
August 31st, 1930
Dear Diary,
Bless the lord, I made it to the train station in St. Louis, Missouri. I ain’t sure how the hell I gonna get myself onto the train, but I’m sure I’ll find some’body who’s done it before. Maybe they will help me on my first ride. I ain’t sure where this train will take me next, but I am ready for an adventure that’s for sure.
Goodbyes ain’t never been easy for me. I ain’t never felt so sad in my life when I walked out the door of my dear home. My sissy, Janie, she took it the hardest I believe. I am the only true friend my sissy ever had. I never felt okay leavin’ my sissy like that, but I know now that leavin’ her will only make life easier for her in the future.
Love always,
Darla
Journal Entry #4
September 1st, 1930
Dear Diary,
A boy a few years older than me, lent me a hand onto the train yesterday. He said I ain’t half bad for a lady. I felt happy after he said that, I felt like I could be a pal to some of these boys. I woke this morning next to Tommy J, a boy from Chicago, Illinois. I was frightened cause I didn’t know where I was, but then I asked him how I got there, and he told me I had fallen fast asleep on the train. He didn’t want me to getin’ hurt so he took me with’em and found me a nice place to sleep beside the road.
I made it all the way to Ohio yesterday. I spent all day on that damn train. I ain’t never been so scared and uncomfortable. Now how I fell asleep, I ain’t sure yet. All I care bout is that I am livin’ and I am healthy. Bless Tommy J’s soul for takin’ me with him. I got a long day ahead of me. I best be on my way.
Love Always,
Darla
Journal Entry #5
September 9th, 1930
Dear Diary,
It’s been days since I last wrote. I haven’t had the heart to write since I hopped the train in Ohio. I been feelin’ so lonely lately, I don’t know what to do with myself. I ain’t seen one girl ridin’ the rails since I left home. It’s times like these when I pray to the dear lord to help my family and my friends. I wonder endlessly bout the economy and why we be in this depression anyways. I can’t stand to see my family in this much pain. I be thinkin’ about it all day long while I’m ridin’ the rails. I know I be doin’ the right thing goin’ to New York. I send my love back home through pray, and I hope my momma, my papa, and my sissy be thinkin’ bout mejust as much as I be thinkin’ bout them.
Last night I been caught by the railroad police. I ain’t never heard of such a thing before. I was bout to hop on the next train to Pennsylvania when I was grabbed by the arm violently, and next thing you know I was on my merry way to jail. I spent last night uncomfortable in jail. I slept on the grimy floor next to some three other boys. One’ a them made a joke bout me cause I been cryin’ myself to sleep. He just don’t know what it’s like to be a young lady like myself ridin’ the rails.
I woke this mornin’ beside a boy named John Burns. John is 18 years old. We made friends with each other quick and decided to move forward on our journey together. We spent the day today talkin’, and learnin’ about each others lives. I ain’t had this feelin’ since the last time I saw my dear family. I know my momma would like John. I wish more than anythin’ that she could be here to meet’em. We are leavin’ now to hop on the next train to New York! Hopefully I be earnin’ some money soon.
Love Always,
Darla
Journal Entry #6
September 10th, 1930
Dear Diary,
I was raped.
-Darla
Journal Entry #7
September 11th, 1930
Dear Diary,
I was wrong about John. How could I be so naïve. I told him my life story and I felt like he wanted to be there for me. Boy, was I misled. All he wanted was my body. I was raped last night. He tried to touch me in places I ain’t never been touched before. I was so scared, I tried to stop’em but he resisted. I ain’t ever been strong. Now I know why my papa always told me to gain some muscle or I be in trouble some day. He was damn right. I don’t feel safe. I don’t feel like myself no more. I just ain’t the same. This journey ain’t worth the risk no more.
I never knew what this journal would become, but now I know. God had me write this diary so I could tell you Janie, my experience as a hobo, my experience ridin’ the rails, and the horrifyin’ boy who changed my life forever. I love you Janie. I love my momma, and I love my papa. You all been the best family I could ever ask for. It’s my time to go Janie. I can’t do this any longer. I won’t be returnin’ home, and I ain’t never gonna see you again. You are a special girl Janie. Always remember that. Take care of momma and papa ya here? You have a bigger heart than anyone I ever known. I know you’ll make a difference someday. My days have changed. Take this Journal, and feel me within your heart as you read it. I will always be right there beside ya. I was meant to be your angel.
Love Always & Forever,
Darla